Business Telephone Systems - Does Your Business Need an IP Phone System? - By: Jim C Green

This article explores the advantages of an IP phone system for business requirements. First we explore the systems on the market today, including PC phone systems. We then conver some considerations for small to medium business needs analysis when upgrading to an IP phone system.

One aspect first to be aware of is the advantages IP interfaces provide to a business telephone system. IP connections will improve the flexibility of a business telephone system, particularly in managing extensions. It is much easier to move phones within the office. An IP interface also provides support for easily setting up home offices and making connections when travelling. Also, systems with a built-in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) feature allow transmission over the Internet without any supplementary hardware for analog to digital conversion.

Some of the most popular commercially available systems today are Panasonic, Avaya Partner, Lucent, Merlin, Nortel Norstar, Comdial and Vodavi (from Vertical), NEC, Toshiba, Mitel, and Shoretel phone systems. Not all of these systems support IP features, so we recommend consulting your local provider for the latest offered features. In addition to a "traditional" phone system, any PC or computer can be used as an IP phone system with downloadable free software. Keep in mind that "free" systems will require a much higher level of skill on your staff (or from your local provider).

What is the method to make the best selection from among these existing business telephone systems? Actually, almost any of these systems would be an adequate choice for the average small business. If you already have a business telephone system, then you can itemize the important features that your business cannot live without, should you change systems. And for some, hiring a professional to perform a detailed systems analysis would be in order. But for most, the key selection criterion will be choosing a good local dealer who can adequately support your business needs.

Also, bear in mind that directing your phone traffic over the Internet may dictate an upgrade of the company's Internet connection, in order to support voice as well as data. Integrated voice/data services are useful for this, particularly if supplied with a Quality of Service (QOS) feature, which effectively prioritizes voice traffic over less critical data traffic. Thus when employees are downloading large files or watching online videos, business telephone conversations will not be degraded.

If the business must have a very dependable phone service, then you should consider a T1 connection, which is delivered with a Service Level Agreement (SLA), for guaranteed uptime. Since T1 lines have come down significantly in price from only a few years ago, when the average monthly cost was over $1000 to at present often under $300, a T1 is now a much more realistic solution. The options and number of vendors supplying T1 services have also increased dramatically in recent years. A telecommunications broker can assist with choosing the best T1 service provider according to your needs.

About the Author

Jim Green owns an online telecom brokerage representing over 30 telecom service providers, and also assists in finding the best local small business telephone system providers to support an IP phone system.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Jim-C-Green/66408

Additional Articles From - Home | Computers | Hardware